other purpose, than to show how the presence or absence of the objective case, affects the meaning of the word.  In some instances the signification of the verb seems almost merged in that of its object; as, to lay hold, to make use, to take care.  In others, the transitive character of the word is partial; as, “He paid my board; I told you so.”  Some verbs will govern any objective whatever; as, to name, to mention.  What is there that cannot be named or mentioned? Others again are restricted to one noun, or to a few; as, to transgress a law, or rule.  What can be transgressed, but a law, a limit, or something equivalent?  Some verbs will govern a kindred noun, or its pronoun, but scarcely any other; as, “He lived a virtuous life.”—­“Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed”—­Gen., xxxvii, 6.  “I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it.”—­Isaiah, v, 6.

OBS. 14.—­Our grammarians, when they come to determine what verbs are properly transitive, and what are not so, do not in all instances agree in opinion.  In short, plain as they think the matter, they are much at odds.  Many of them say, that, “In the phrases, ‘To dream a dream,’ ’To live a virtuous life,’ ‘To run a race,’ ‘To walk a horse,’ ‘To dance a child,’ the verbs assume a transitive character, and in these cases may be denominated active.”—­See Guy’s Gram., p. 21; Murray’s, 180; Ingersoll’s, 183; Fisk’s, 123; Smith’s, 153.  This decision is undoubtedly just; yet a late writer has taken a deal of pains to find fault with it, and to persuade his readers, that, “No verb is active in any sense, or under any construction, that will not, in every sense, permit the objective case of a personal pronoun after it.”—­Wright’s Gram., p. 174.  Wells absurdly supposes, “An intransitive verb may be used to govern an objective.”—­Gram., p. 145.  Some imagine that verbs of mental action, such as conceive, think, believe, &c., are not properly transitive; and, if they find an object after such a verb, they choose to supply a preposition to govern it:  as, “I conceived it (of it) in that light.”—­Guy’s Gram., p. 21.  “Did you conceive (of) him to be me?”—­Ib., p. 28.  With this idea, few will probably concur.

OBS. 15.—­We sometimes find the pronoun me needlessly thrown in after a verb that either governs some other object or is not properly transitive, at least, in respect to this word; as, “It ascends me into the brain; dries me there all the foolish, dull, and crudy vapours.”—­Shakspeare’s Falstaff.  “Then the vital commoners and inland petty spirits muster me all to their captain, the heart.”—­Id. This is a faulty relic of our old Saxon dative case.  So of the second person; “Fare you well, Falstaff.”—­Shak.  Here